Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
on local design trends.
For bluebonnet-covered, Texasy souvenirs, just about every mall has a
Y'all's Texas Store
somehing different? The shops of Little India, on Harwin Dr southwest of town off I-59,
sell saris galore.
Galleria
(
www.simon.com
;
5075 Westheimer Rd; 10am-9pm)
Welcome to THE mall, Houston's Valhalla of
shopping. The sprawling Galleria is Texas' biggest indoor shopping center, with 2.4 milli-
on sq ft, 400 stores, 30 restaurants, two hotels - oh, and an ice-skating rink.
Just about every upscale national department and chain store you can think of is repres-
ented here, plus exclusive design houses and boutiques. This place is so iconic to Houston
that 'the Galleria' refers to the whole surrounding neighborhood, which has many more
shopping and dining plazas.
MALL
Rice Village
(
www.ricevillageonline.com
; btwn Kirby & Morningside Drs, & University & Rice Blvds)
One of the few parts
of town best explored on foot, Rice Village buzzes with a hip student energy thanks to
neighboring Rice University. Though upscale chains are well represented in a mall-like
plaza, many of the smart shopping options on outlying streets are one of a kind.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Houston Heights
(
www.houstonheights.org
;
19th St, btwn Yale St & Shepherd Dr)
Funky vintage shops, eclectic home-
wares, an antique outlet or two and artsy clothing boutiques - including one specializing
in
Mad Men
, '60s-era togs - concentrated along a short stretch of 19th St in the Heights.
On the first Saturday of every month, 19th St takes on a carnival-like air with outdoor
booths and entertainment.
The eclectic old neighborhood's bungalow homes add to the charm of shopping here, as
does the odd cafe or two.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Chloe Dao Boutique
MAP
BOUTIQUE
GOOGLE MAP
